---
title: Session State In Instructions
---

This example demonstrates how to use session state variables directly in agent instructions. It shows how to initialize session state and reference those variables in the instruction templates.

## Code

```python session_state_in_instructions.py
from agno.agent import Agent
from agno.models.openai import OpenAIChat

agent = Agent(
    model=OpenAIChat(id="gpt-5-mini"),
    # Initialize the session state with a variable
    session_state={"user_name": "John"},
    # You can use variables from the session state in the instructions
    instructions="Users name is {user_name}",
    markdown=True,
)

agent.print_response("What is my name?", stream=True)
```

## Usage

<Steps>
  <Snippet file="create-venv-step.mdx" />

  <Step title="Install libraries">
    ```bash
    pip install -U agno openai
    ```
  </Step>

  <Step title="Export your OpenAI API key">

    <CodeGroup>

    ```bash Mac/Linux
      export OPENAI_API_KEY="your_openai_api_key_here"
    ```

    ```bash Windows
      $Env:OPENAI_API_KEY="your_openai_api_key_here"
    ```
    </CodeGroup> 
  </Step>

  <Step title="Create a Python file">
    Create a Python file and add the above code.
    ```bash
    touch session_state_in_instructions.py
    ```
  </Step>

  <Step title="Run Agent">
    <CodeGroup>
    ```bash Mac
    python session_state_in_instructions.py
    ```
    
    ```bash Windows  
    python session_state_in_instructions.py
    ```
    </CodeGroup>
  </Step>

  <Step title="Find All Cookbooks">
  Explore all the available cookbooks in the Agno repository. Click the link below to view the code on GitHub:

  <Link href="https://github.com/agno-agi/agno/tree/main/cookbook/agents/state" target="_blank">
    Agno Cookbooks on GitHub
  </Link>
</Step>
</Steps>